FORT MYERS, Fla. (WWSB) – A man from South Florida faces federal charges in connection with a jewelry heist in Cape Coral Jan. 6.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Fort Myers says Ivel Sanchez Rivera, 52, of Hialeah has been charged with conspiracy and interference with commerce by robbery and use and brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Prosecutors say two armed suspects broke into the Tio Jewelers in Cape Coral from an adjacent vacant business space after hours.
When the jewelry store manager arrived, the robbers forced him to open a safe. The suspects took a large amount of jewelry and two firearms from the store before leaving in a getaway vehicle driven by a third suspect later identified as Sanchez Rivera.
Cape Coral Police believe said Sanchez Rivera had driven the car to the area of the jewelry store the night before and then immediately returned to Miami following the robbery.
A search warrant was executed at Sanchez Rivera’s residence and two firearms were recovered, including a firearm that was taken from the jewelry store manager during the robbery.
If convicted, Sanchez Rivera faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy offense and a consecutive 7 years in federal prison for the firearm offense.
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